Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors for non-small-cell lung cancer patients aged 80 years or older: A retrospective analysis

• Published in: Molecular and clinical oncology Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 403 - 407
• Main Authors: Nakao, Makoto, Muramatsu, Hideki, Sone, Kazuki, Aoki, Sachiko, Akiko, Harata, Kagawa, Yusuke, Sato, Hidefumi, Kunieda, Takefumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Spandidos Publications 01-03-2015; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd; D.A. Spandidos
• Subjects: Analysis; BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Chemotherapy; Cytotoxicity; Development and progression; Drug therapy; Epidermal growth factor; Health aspects; Inhibitor drugs; Lung cancer; Lung cancer, Non-small cell; Mutation; Oncology; Patients; Polymerase chain reaction; Japan; gefitinib; erlotinib; extremely elderly patients; non-small-cell lung cancer
• ISSN: 2049-9450; 2049-9469
• DOI: 10.3892/mco.2014.453

The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains uncertain. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of EGFR-TKIs for NSCLC patients aged ≥ 80 years. We analyzed data from 21 NSCLC patients aged ≥ 80 years who were administered gefitinib and/or erlotinib between January, 2009 and December, 2014. The clinical characteristics, smoking status, type of
mutation and the efficacy and toxicity of EGFR-TKIs were evaluated in these patients. In total, 14 (66.7%), 5 (23.8%) and 2 patients (9.5%) displayed partial response, stable disease and progressive disease, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 182 days, whereas the median overall survival was 371 days. Adverse events ≥ grade 2 were as follows: skin toxicities, 12 patients; liver function test abnormalities, 7 patients; anorexia, 3 patients; and diarrhea, 2 patients. Dose reduction of EGFR-TKIs due to adverse events was required in 15 patients (71.4%). Although gefitinib and erlotinib therapy may be beneficial in patients aged ≥ 80 years, EGFR-TKI dose modification may be necessary according to the overall medical condition of elderly patients. Further studies are required to evaluate our findings.